From Shore to Core: La Union Divers Unite for Underwater Clean-Up
By: Dave Leprozo, Jr., with reports from PGLU
SAN JUAN, LA UNION — In a powerful show of environmental stewardship, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) and its partners plunged beneath the waves on May 14, 2026, for a joint SCUBAsurero Coastal Clean-Up, extending the province’s conservation efforts from the shoreline to the ocean floor.
The activity, held in celebration of the Month of the Ocean, brought together the Provincial Government–Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Municipality of San Juan. Their mission: to safeguard the Taboc Marine Protected Areas in Barangays Taboc and Ili Norte.
Volunteer divers and environmental advocates from groups such as the PGLU Scuba Diving Team, Freediveelyu and LAUD Freediving, Dakila Freediving, Hooman of the Sea, and the San Juan Bantay Dagat joined forces with local officials led by Mayor Mariquita Ortega. Together, they collected marine debris ranging from discarded fishing nets tangled in coral reefs to plastic wrappers and iron bars—hazards that threaten marine biodiversity.
A donated patrol boat proved vital in transporting divers and hauling debris from the site, underscoring its role in strengthening coastal protection and emergency response operations. The clean-up also highlighted the province’s growing capacity to support environmental initiatives in marine protected areas.
Local leaders reinforced the message of shared responsibility. Sangguniang Bayan Member Kyle Carpio, Chairperson of San Juan’s Committee on Environment, and Board Member Harold Dave Sibuma, Chairperson of the Provincial Committee on Environment, were present to emphasize the importance of sustained collaboration.
By diving deep into conservation, La Union demonstrated that protecting marine ecosystems requires collective action. This underwater clean-up not only removed harmful waste but also strengthened bonds among government agencies, local organizations, and volunteers—proving that true stewardship extends from shore to core.
